Key Environment Canada positions on air quality issues of concern

When governments are developing regulatory proposals that will have important air quality results for Canadians, Environment Canada, working with its partners, may submit comments and advice to support the completion of the governmental action. Below is listed a number of key positions taken by Environment Canada with respect to air quality related initiatives in Canada and the United States.

U.S. EPA regulatory proposals for air quality and mercury

News Release - Environment Canada calls for faster reductions in air pollutants from U.S. power plants [2004-04-01]
Comment submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Environment Canada: Proposed Rule to Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Interstate Air Quality Rule)
Comment submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Environment Canada: Proposed National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; and, in the Alternative,Proposed Standards of Performance for New and Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Steam Generating Units

Ground Level Ozone

Programs in the U.S.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards Proposed Decisions on Particulate Matter and Ozone - March 11, 1997 Canadian submission to EPA on the tightening of the U.S. air quality standards for ozone and inhalable particles (smog)
Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone: Proposed Rule - March 16, 1998 Canadian government submission to EPA to support the U.S. NOx reduction program
Canada supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in efforts to reduce cross-border air pollution - July 1999 news release about Canadian government legal "friend of the court" or amicus curiae brief to support U.S. EPA NOx reduction program in a federal court challenge
Brief of amicus curiae Government of Canada in support of respondent and affirmance of rule - July 1999 Canadian amicus curiae brief to support U.S. EPA NOx reduction program in U.S. court challenge

Canada-U.S. joint report on transboundary ground-level ozone

Ground-Level Ozone: Occurrence and transport in Eastern North America - March 1999 Canada-U.S. transboundary ozone report that includes a description of the ozone transport issue (also available in PDF)

United Nations agreement addressing ground-level ozone; negotiated and signed by Canada and the U.S.

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution - This is the address for the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the recent Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone signed in Gothenburg in December 1999 which includes commitments for sources of emissions of NO_x and VOC emissions similar to those used in the Canada-U.S. Ozone Annex

Ontario proposals for the electricity sector and emissions trading

Comments from Environment Canada on Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) Registry No. RA01E0008 (Lakeview Thermal Generating Station Emission Limits) - April 25, 2001 Environment Canada comment to Ontario government proposal for emission reductions at Lakeview electricity generating station
Environment Minister David Anderson Comments on Ontario's Proposed Emissions Reduction Limits for the Electricity Sector - June 22, 2001 Environment Minister Anderson statement on Ontario proposal for emission caps for the electricity sector and an emissions trading system

New Source Review Program Reforms in U.S.

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Non-attainment New Source Review (NSR): Routine Maintenance, Repair and Replacement- May 1, 2003 - Environment Canada comment submitted to U.S. EPA regarding routine maintenance(also in PDF)